by Pearl WashingtonSpecial to the Tri-State Defender(The Tri-State Defender asked Pearl Washington, a Memphis City Schools teacher {and Michael Jackson fan} to watch the Michael Jackson memorial service and provide a running commentary.)The Andraé Crouch Choir begins, singing a classic gospel “Soon and Very Soon, We are Going to See the King.”
Some guy I never heard of opens the service. Pastor Lucious Smith, seems pretty eloquent, thankfully brief.
The brothers rolled Mike’s casket in, it’s shiny and covered with beautiful red roses.
Mariah Carey and Trey Larenz sang “I’ll Be There.” Mariah’s voice kept catching, like she had been crying earlier.
Queen Latifah is speaking; she’s so normal for Hollywood. She recites a poem, “We Had Him,” by Dr. Maya Angelou…Beautiful poem. . . “He was a gift to us and we had him.” That poem was awesome.
Lionel Richie is singing “Jesus is Love”…He looks and sounds good.
Berry Gordy talks about the first time he heard the Jackson Five. While reviewing Mike’s career, he calls Michael Jackson the greatest entertainer who ever lived, bringing the brothers & others to their feet.
Stunning visual review of his career on the backdrop.
Now Stevie: “This is a moment that I wished I didn’t live to see come, but as much as I can say that and mean it, I do know that God is good…..”
Stevie sings: “They won’t go when I go…” Stevie’s hair is coming out….that picture of Michael sitting reared back in a chair, is touching.
Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson…Kobe says Mike holdes the Guinness Book of World Records for most charities supported by a pop star….Magic says discovering that Mike ate Kentucky Fried Chicken made his day…they sat on the floor and ate that chicken together…
Jennifer Hudson is blowing….she is beautiful and visibly pregnant…her voice is amazing….The group is beautiful and Michael’s words are awesome.
Rev. Al Sharpton is proclaiming that Mike opened doors and created a comfort level that brought kids (together) …got comfortable with one another…He said, “I want to tell Michael’s children: Wasn’t nothing strange about your daddy, it was strange what your daddy had to deal with.”
John Mayer plays a guitar solo, “Why, Why, Tell him that it’s human nature…” on the guitar. He’s awesome!
Brooke Shields is speaking…she has some sincere and touching memories of Michael. She says Michael said, “Eyes are blind, you have to look with the heart.”
Jermaine Jackson is singing “Smile,” by Charlie Chaplain, one of Mike’s favorite songs. He sounds a little like Michael. He can barely get through the song.
Martin (Luther King) the III is speaking….(Says) Michael Jackson was the best at what he was.
His (King III’s) sister, Bernice, says her prayer is that nothing will separate the family from the Love of God. Michael was such a one who rose above his individual concerns to the broader concerns of humanity. Mike made a call to Coretta (Dr. King’s widow) to let her know he was praying for her on his knees everyday. She was unable to speak, but he wanted to make sure that music was playing in her room, because it heals.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee from Houston Texas…said the Constitution says people are innocent until proven otherwise…she was good…a resolution will be introduced declaring Mike a national icon and humanitarian.
Usher sang “Gone too Soon.” (I think that’s the name of the song.) He could barely finish. He cried.
Smokey Robinson comes on after a video of the j5 doing “Who’s Loving YOU” on the “Ed Sullivan Show” talking about how Mike sang his songs the way he did to be so young. Mike has made an enormous impact all over the world….says he’s glad that he lived in an era to know and see the greatest entertainer of all time, that he believes so much in God that he knows this is not IT…that he will have eternal life with God.
Shaheen Jafargholi, a young boy, sang “Who’s Loving You?” Baby Boy blew it! Beautiful voice. He’s the kid who beat out the Irish woman (Susan Boyle) on “Britian’s Got talent…”
Kenny Ortega: We were here less than a week ago….planning his triumphant return…
The family and some more singers are singing “We are the World,” then “Heal the World,” more children come out and it looks like the end of one of Michael’s concerts.
Marlon, Janet, everyone is on stage for the finale…Marlon tries to talk, but he really ends up asking Mike to hug his twin brother when he sees him (I didn’t know about that)…Paris, Michael’s daughter, says, “Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father in the world (or something like that)….”
I really couldn’t take it after that. I cried because it really hit me that Michael Jackson is dead.
